Babysitting is temporarily caring for a child. Babysitting can be a paid job for all ages; however, it is best known as a temporary activity for early teenagers who are not yet eligible for employment in the general economy. It provides autonomy from parental control and dispensable income, as well as an introduction to the techniques of childcare. It emerged as a social role for teenagers in the 1920s, and became especially important in suburban America in the 1950s and 1960s, when small children were abundant. It stimulated an outpouring of folk culture in the form of urban legends, pulp novels, and horror films.[1]
1895 painting of a nurse reading to a little girlAn episode of About Safety, a 1970s educational children's show, on the topic of babysitting
In developed countries, most babysitters are high school or college students (age 16+). Some adults have in-home childcare as well. They are not babysitters but professional childcare providers and early childhood educators. The work for babysitters also varies from watching a sleeping child, changing diapers, playing games, and preparing meals, to teaching the child to read or even drive, depending on the agreement between parents and babysitter.
In some countries, various organizations produce courses for babysitters, many focusing on child safety and first-aid appropriate for infants and children; these educational programs can be provided at local hospitals and schools. Different activities will be needed for babies and toddlers. It will be beneficial for the babysitters to understand toddler developmental milestones[2] to plan for the necessary activities. As paid employees, babysitters often require a disclosure or assessment of one's criminal record to ward off possible hebephiles, pedophiles, and other unsuitable applicants.[3]
Costedit
United Statesedit
According to the caregiver-finding platform UrbanSitter, the national average babysitting cost in 2022 was $22.68 an hour for one child, $25.37 an hour for two, and $27.70 an hour for three children. This rate has increased by 21 percent since 2019.[4]
Etymologyedit
The term "baby sitter" first appeared in 1937, while the verb form "baby-sit" was first recorded in 1947.[5] The American Heritage College Dictionary notes, "One normally would expect the agent noun babysitter with its -er suffix to come from the verb baby-sit, as diver comes from dive, but in fact babysitter is first recorded in 1937, ten years earlier than the first appearance of baby-sit. Thus the verb was derived from the agent noun rather than the other way around and represented a good example of back-formation.[6] The use of the word "sit" to refer to a person tending to a child is recorded from 1800. The term may have originated from the caretaker "sitting on" the baby in one room while the parents were entertaining or busy in another. It is also theorized that the term may come from hens "sitting" on their eggs, thus "caring for" their chicks.[7]
International variations in definitionedit
In British English, the term refers only to caring for a child for a few hours, on an informal basis, and usually in the evening when the child is asleep for most of the time.[8]
In American English, the term can include caring for a child for all or most of the day and on a regular or more formal basis, which would be described as childminding in British English.
In India and Pakistan, a babysitter or nanny, known as an ayah or aya, is hired on a longer-term contract basis to look after a child regardless of the presence of the parents.
Referencesedit
Notesedit
^Miriam Forman-Brunell, Babysitter: An American History (2009)
^Blanchard, Ray, et al. "Pedophilia, hebephilia, and the DSM-V." Archives of sexual behavior 38.3 (2009): 335-350.
^Kingson, Jennifer A. (2023-02-10). "Exclusive: Babysitting rates surged nearly 10% last year". Axios. Retrieved 2023-02-10.
^Greenwald, Ken. "Babysitting." Word Wizard. Google.com, Sept.-Oct. 2003. Web.
^"baby-sit", The American Heritage College Dictionary, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002, p. 103
^. Babysitters. January 23, 2012. Archived from the original on August 11, 2014. Retrieved 2015-07-19.
^Admin. "10 Interesting Facts About the Etymology of Babysitter | Babysitters." Babysitters. Babysitters.net, 23 Jan. 2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2013.
Bibliographyedit
Miriam Forman-Brunell. Babysitter: An American History. New York University Press, June, 2009.from English dictionary
External linksedit
The dictionary definition of babysitting at Wiktionary
YourChild: Babysitter Safety University of Michigan Health System
From University of Florida/IFAS Department of Family, Youth and Community Sciences, Factors in choosing quality child care.
October 27, 2023
babysitting, 2014, french, film, film, babysitter, redirects, here, other, uses, babysitter, disambiguation, temporarily, caring, child, paid, ages, however, best, known, temporary, activity, early, teenagers, eligible, employment, general, economy, provides, . For the 2014 French film see Babysitting film Babysitter redirects here For other uses see Babysitter disambiguation Babysitting is temporarily caring for a child Babysitting can be a paid job for all ages however it is best known as a temporary activity for early teenagers who are not yet eligible for employment in the general economy It provides autonomy from parental control and dispensable income as well as an introduction to the techniques of childcare It emerged as a social role for teenagers in the 1920s and became especially important in suburban America in the 1950s and 1960s when small children were abundant It stimulated an outpouring of folk culture in the form of urban legends pulp novels and horror films 1 1895 painting of a nurse reading to a little girl source source An episode of About Safety a 1970s educational children s show on the topic of babysitting Contents 1 Overall 2 Cost 2 1 United States 3 Etymology 4 International variations in definition 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksOverall editIn developed countries most babysitters are high school or college students age 16 Some adults have in home childcare as well They are not babysitters but professional childcare providers and early childhood educators The work for babysitters also varies from watching a sleeping child changing diapers playing games and preparing meals to teaching the child to read or even drive depending on the agreement between parents and babysitter In some countries various organizations produce courses for babysitters many focusing on child safety and first aid appropriate for infants and children these educational programs can be provided at local hospitals and schools Different activities will be needed for babies and toddlers It will be beneficial for the babysitters to understand toddler developmental milestones 2 to plan for the necessary activities As paid employees babysitters often require a disclosure or assessment of one s criminal record to ward off possible hebephiles pedophiles and other unsuitable applicants 3 Cost editUnited States edit According to the caregiver finding platform UrbanSitter the national average babysitting cost in 2022 was 22 68 an hour for one child 25 37 an hour for two and 27 70 an hour for three children This rate has increased by 21 percent since 2019 4 Etymology editThe term baby sitter first appeared in 1937 while the verb form baby sit was first recorded in 1947 5 The American Heritage College Dictionary notes One normally would expect the agent noun babysitter with its er suffix to come from the verb baby sit as diver comes from dive but in fact babysitter is first recorded in 1937 ten years earlier than the first appearance of baby sit Thus the verb was derived from the agent noun rather than the other way around and represented a good example of back formation 6 The use of the word sit to refer to a person tending to a child is recorded from 1800 The term may have originated from the caretaker sitting on the baby in one room while the parents were entertaining or busy in another It is also theorized that the term may come from hens sitting on their eggs thus caring for their chicks 7 International variations in definition editIn British English the term refers only to caring for a child for a few hours on an informal basis and usually in the evening when the child is asleep for most of the time 8 In American English the term can include caring for a child for all or most of the day and on a regular or more formal basis which would be described as childminding in British English In India and Pakistan a babysitter or nanny known as an ayah or aya is hired on a longer term contract basis to look after a child regardless of the presence of the parents References editNotes edit Miriam Forman Brunell Babysitter An American History 2009 Toddler Developmental Milestones NannySOS 2016 Blanchard Ray et al Pedophilia hebephilia and the DSM V Archives of sexual behavior 38 3 2009 335 350 Kingson Jennifer A 2023 02 10 Exclusive Babysitting rates surged nearly 10 last year Axios Retrieved 2023 02 10 Greenwald Ken Babysitting Word Wizard Google com Sept Oct 2003 Web baby sit The American Heritage College Dictionary Boston Houghton Mifflin 2002 p 103 10 Interesting Facts About the Etymology of Babysitter Babysitters January 23 2012 Archived from the original on August 11 2014 Retrieved 2015 07 19 Admin 10 Interesting Facts About the Etymology of Babysitter Babysitters Babysitters Babysitters net 23 Jan 2012 Web 13 Mar 2013 Bibliography edit Miriam Forman Brunell Babysitter An American History New York University Press June 2009 from English dictionaryExternal links edit nbsp The dictionary definition of babysitting at Wiktionary Babysitting courses provided by the American Red Cross YourChild Babysitter Safety University of Michigan Health System A guide to the business of babysitting in the United States Quality Child Care From University of Florida IFAS Department of Family Youth and Community Sciences Factors in choosing quality child care Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Babysitting amp oldid 1178390611, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
